Investigator: Nude photos prompt another woman to complain

CLEVELAND -- A second woman has complained that a former Cuyahoga County public defender showed her pornographic pictures and asked her to pose nude.

The woman, who asked that she not be identified, said she is willing to cooperate with investigators at the public defender's office because she said she wants the attorney held accountable.

The attorney, former public defender Tom Condosta, was fired on June 8. A woman we'll call "Mary" came forward and told Channel 3 News Investigator Tom Meyer that Condosta took about 50 nude photos of her in his county office and posted them on an amateur porn site.

"Mary" said she agreed to pose nude because Condosta promised to help her with her legal case. "Mary" and a second woman said they were both represented by Condosta in his capacity as a public defender.

Condosta has said he has never taken photographs of a naked client. He emphasized the word "client."

The second woman said Condosta took her into a conference room near a courtroom at the Justice Center.

She said Condosta "reached into his briefcase and began to show me pictures. The girls were in vulgar positions and they were naked. At one point, someone came into the room and he got very mad and quickly put the camera away. He asked me 'do you like these pictures?' He asked if I would pose. He also said he would help me."

She said this happened at a time in her life when she was scared. She feared Condosta would retaliate if she reported him.

Channel 3 News tried to talk to Condosta about the latest allegations as he backed out of his driveway in his SUV. He quickly denied the second woman's allegations and drove away.

Chief Public Defender Robert Tobik declined comment, saying Condosta is appealing his firing. He wouldn't say whether his office is investigating allegations that Condosta might have photographed other women inside his county office.

"He described them as 'girl next door' pictures," "Mary" said. He told me he's taken photos of people for over 20 some years.

He also wouldn't say if he reported Condosta's misconduct to the Ohio Supreme Court's Disciplinary Counsel. That office would neither confirm nor deny it's investigating the case.